Finding Communities in Southern Chile July 31, 2025
By A student (Geology, Carleton College) - abroad from 07/31/2025 to 12/10/2024 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Valdivia
I gained so many new skills! Some include resiliency in new situation, learning to navigate a new city independently, adapting to a different academic setting than I was used to, communication with my host family, taking moments for self care, or emotional breaks when I got overwhelmed, and stepping out of my comfort zone in so many ways.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I'm super satisfied, I loved pretty much everything about my program. The homestay and the university classes were great, my internship wasn't great, but I still learned some useful things, and my independent research project involved revealing to a biological research station on an island with a group of four other students for 5 total weekends to work on cool projects, and it was so much fun. Also, Valdivia was great, I was able to find community in an amazing local rugby team, go on hikes and trips to the nearby coast, there was live music, and other interesting cultural events, and fun chaotic open air markets. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | less than $20 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make lunch at home to bring to university. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Advanced |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Fluent |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Upper level college course |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Dive right in to fully using the language, and try to completely immerse in the language and culture. Though it was an adjustment, I got so much better pretty quickly, and it was fun! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Try all the new things you can at the beginning, so that you can find what you really enjoy. It's ok if you don't bond with other students/local young people right away, or if it even takes a few months. It's ok to feel sad/overwhelmed/lonely, and you are not alone in those feelings. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
